Peugeot 308 R HYbrid concept unveiled

The Peugeot 308 R HYbrid concept has been outed and detailed ahead of its public debut at the 2015 Shanghai motor show next week.

Powering the potential flagship of the 308 range is a hybrid drivetrain. Driving the front wheels is a 201kW 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an 85kW electric motor allied to a six-speed automated transmission. Along the rear axle there’s another 85kW electric engine.

This set-up delivers a maximum output of 373kW of power and 730Nm of torque in Hot Lap mode. In Track mode, the 308 R HYbrid is throttled back to 298kW/530Nm, which is generated primarily by the petrol engine and rear electric motor; the front electric motor only kicks in when additional acceleration is required.

With the car set to Road mode, output is to restrained to 224kW/400Nm. In this mode, the front electric motor is cut out of the picture all together. Finally there’s a ZEV mode, where the rear electric motor plays a dominant role over the electric engine located up front.

With everything working together in Hot Lap mode, the 308 R HYbrid is said to be able to complete the 0-100km/h dash in 4.0 seconds. Thus set up, the car can also finish off the standing kilometre in 22 seconds flat and hit an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

The 308 R HYbrid rides on 19-inch alloy wheels coupled to 235/35 rubber, and features a track that’s been widened by 80mm.

Stopping power for the concept is provided by regenerative braking, as well as 380mm ventilated discs with four-piston calipers at the front and 290mm discs at the rear.

Peugeot says that 308 R HYbrid should return a fuel economy figure of 3.0L/100km. The company’s engineers have rejigged the rear end of the 308 to accommodate a 50L fuel tank and an electric motor, while a 3kWh lithium-ion battery lives now underneath the rear seats.

The company says that with a fast charger, the 308 R HYbrid can be recharged in just 30 minutes, although there’s no mention about the car’s electric-only driving range.